UNSW tertiary educators strike following increased workloads and insufficient pay

By JUSTIN COOPER

The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) rallied over the past week in protest for better pay and work conditions after over a year of negotiations.

Educators gathered requesting a pay rise to match current inflation, reduce workloads, and minimise the reliance on casual staff who are not receiving secure work benefits.

On May 31st, tertiary teachers from UNSW and Macquarie University rallied at UNSW Kensington as part of a 24-hour working strike for teachers.

City Hub spoke with UNSW NTEU Branch President Richard Vickery who has been advocating for fellow teachers after a “very challenging” three years.

Vickery explained that the impacts of covid-19, massive staff cuts, and shifts to three mandatory teaching terms with a summer term left additional workloads and responsibilities for existing teachers.

“Staff rightly felt betrayed… These staff departures not only affect morale and disrupt working relationships, but on a practical scale, often entail more workload” says Vickery.

Starting action back in March 2022 with little progress, Vickery and the Union sought industrial action which has pushed for substantial negotiations with UNSW Vice Chancellor Atilla Brungs. However, negotiations regarding a fair pay rise have still not been met.

“UNSW gave staff only a 1% pay rise last year – given inflation this is actually a significant pay cut. The current offer is 3.25% over 4 years which is below the average wage increases nationally. Cost of living pressures are really starting to bite, especially with Sydney housing costs.”

Image: Justin Cooper

Additionally, Vickery highlighted the reliance on casual staff at the university has been “staggering” with the increased workload expectations for both professional and academic staff.

“These people [casual staff] deserve secure employment and students deserve the continuity of support that this would enable those staff to provide,” says Vickery.

Speaking at the rally, Vickery explained the significance of the NTEU industrial action at UNSW saying, “What we win will impact people in our sector… The conditions that we win will flow on and propagate. That’s why it is so important that we fight to get the best agreement we can.”

Returning an operating surplus of $223 million in 2021, criticism regarding UNSW’s surplus and the million-dollar salary of VC Brungs were highlighted during the rally. UNSW is one of the biggest universities in Australia and a part of the Group of Eight (Go8).

Student and council support

Many students from the UNSW came to support teachers during the 24-hour strike and helped rally at the picket line.

UNSW Education Officer Cherish Kuehlmann spoke with City Hub following her speech at the rally stating that “students have a united fight.”

Kuehlmann acknowledged the irrevocable tie between student learning conditions and staff workplace conditions, saying “students can blame university management” for increased wait lists, full classes, and courses that are unavailable at the university.

During her speech at the rally, Kuehlmann noted UNSW’s extreme staff cuts being “one of the worst in the country” along with staff-to-student ratios being 1:41 – ranking UNSW one of the worst amongst the Go8 regarding ratios.

Kuehlmann encourages further student participation and to “​​show solidarity.”

“Anytime staff come out on strike students should join staff in doing so… When staff want to shut the uni down, students should help them do that.”

Along with teachers and students, the rally was supported by Randwick Councillor Philipa Veitch, who explained the requests by the NTEU as “the bare minimum” during her speech.

In a comment to City Hub, Cnr Veitch says “They [students and staff of UNSW] are a vital part of our community and when we see community members who can’t afford to pay their bills, who are suffering through untamable working conditions and hours… then I feel that it’s really important as a local councillor to come and show that support.”

Cnr Veitch recognised whilst the council and university operations are separate, that there are “certainly things we can do at council” including possible motions to support progress for teachers.

Industrial action to continue

Along with the strike in Sydney, the NTEU continued strikes at the University of Newcastle on Thursday following the universities application to the Fair Work Commission.

The University of Newcastle’s choice for the application comes after the NTEU rejected management settlement offers and aimed to challenge new workplace laws.

With new workplace laws to be introduced on June 6th, the NTEU fears referring a determination from the Commission will significantly reduce any future negotiations with the University.

NTEU General Secretary Damien Cahill says that the university is “using every last tactic to avoid enterprise bargaining.”

“The NTEU is drawing a line in the sand. We will fight tooth and nail against any attempt to use workplace laws to sideline workers,” said Cahill.

The NTEU is evidently determined to continue industrial action until further negotiations are met with a unanimous decision from members, on better pay and working conditions at respective universities.